Thomas Crum Centering Hint
November 2012

TRUE COLORS  

 

In 1951 there was a championship football game between Dartmouth and Princeton in which there were Football on flag for Nov 2012 hint many controversial rough plays and penalties. Princeton's all-American quarterback was knocked out of the game with a broken nose and concussion and shortly thereafter the Dartmouth quarterback was sidelined with a broken leg.

 

 

One week after the game, researchers showed film of the game to students from both universities and asked them to complete a questionnaire. Not surprisingly, the Princeton students observed the Dartmouth team as playing dirty and unfairly while the Dartmouth students reported it exactly the opposite way.

 

The study introduced the term "selective perception" - the strong filter through which we perceive the world, often influenced by our affiliations with a particular group or culture. Often we are unaware of our selective perceptions, the same way a fish isn't aware of the medium (water) it is swimming in.

 

This applies to our perceptions of socio-political events too, and the perception variance can be very costly. At a dinner party on election eve I heard this comment: "He used to be my best friend. But now he has such crazy beliefs that we can't hardly talk anymore!"

 

In an election like this recent one, each side wore its distinctly colored jersey and went toe-to-toe with the opponent, slugging it out just like a fiercely contested championship game, Big Blue against Big Red. You may have encountered your own frustrations when, no matter how articulately or expertly you thought you were explaining your team's strategy, your relationships with friends or family members became strained, or worse.

 

Well, the game is over. We may still have a little grieving or celebrating to do, and maybe a little begrudging like the Dartmouth/Princeton fans. But now it's time to take off our jerseys, shake hands, and reach for higher ground together. That sounds simple, but history shows it is not so easy to do. This is where centering can really help. Getting centered can help you get your mind and body to a present place, a clean slate, open to learning.

 

When you are centered, you can take off your Red or Blue jersey and wash it. It might even need a complete mending/soaking/dry-cleaning treatment. Take a little time to see where your selective perspective caused a stain. Be mindful of where your inconsistencies tore holes in the shirt. Meditate on how your choice of information sources masked an opportunity for learning, further soiling the jersey.

 

As we take the time and the courage to be mindful of our own stuff, we can open our hearts and minds, reach across the aisles, and be positive and helpful. Take whatever time you need, but get centered - and clean that jersey.

 


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